Moving in together: Curing a case of the ‘terrible twos’!

Picture this: you’ve just moved in together. Life is getting exciting and you’ve managed to get through the moving process without any trouble. But then you realize something: you have a case of the ‘terrible twos’. “But how?” you ask. “We don’t have toddlers!” One of the biggest headaches for newly cohabitating couples is often the daunting idea of combining households. By ‘terrible twos’, I’m referring to two toasters, two sets of dishes, two sets of bedding, and possibly even two full medicine cabinets. Help! Here are some tips from 1-800-GOT-JUNK? to purge your unwanted items and simplify your new home:

Don’t double up on your stuff, as tempting as it may be. You really don’t need two microwaves! If neither of you are willing to give up your own set of dishes, consider finding a new home for all of it and invest in something you both like.

Once you’ve decided which repeat items are getting the boot, separate them into manageable piles: donate, recycle, Craigslist, or trash. This is a great opportunity to purge your personal junk, too!

If it hasn’t been used in over a year by either of you, toss it. Take a photo if you feel you need the memory.

Use the ‘one in, one out’ rule when shopping: for every new household item you buy, you get rid of one.

If you often make purchases separately, try to communicate with each other regularly to make sure you’re not doubling up on items.

Sam Landa is PR Manager for 1-800-GOT-JUNK?. She has experienced–and overcome–the ‘terrible twos’ herself. In her spare time, she loves playing live music and writing. Connect with Sam on Google+ or LinkedIn.